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First Controversy Of The Winter Olympics Is Over The Flag

February 9, 2018 at 8:17 am

(CNN) — The Winter Olympics has just started, and we already have our first controversy — and it’s over who carried the US flag in the opening ceremony.

Flag bearer Erin Hamlin of the United States leads her country during the Opening Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on Feb. 9, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (credit: Harry How/Getty Images)

On one side is Erin Hamlin, a world-renowned luger, two-time world champion and four-time Olympian.

On the other is Shani Davis — a decorated speed skater and five-time Olympics qualifier.

The flag bearer is typically chosen in a vote of the eight US winter sport federations, which represent biathlon, bobsled and skeleton, curling, figure skating, hockey, luge, ski and snowboarding, and speed skating.

But this year, Hamlin and Davis tied 4-4.

Enter the coin toss, Davis said.

Hamlin was chosen, according to the US Olympic Committee.

And Davis was definitely not happy about it, venting in a tweet that the coin toss was “dishonorably” done.

“I am an American and when I won the 1000m in 2010 I became the first American to 2-peat in that event,” Davis tweeted. “@TeamUSA dishonorably tossed a coin to decide its 2018 flag bearer. No problem. I can wait until 2022. #BlackHistoryMonth2018 #PyeongChang2018.”